Jan | Feb | March | April | May  | June  | September  | October  | November| December 

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To RSVP for any show, click RESERVE SEATS in the the show description.  For general questions, you can email me directly abbiew@froggie.com. Unless noted, concerts start at 7:30 w/ potluck at 6:30 PM. “Suggested donation” is $20-$25 depending on the show. In general ~ pay what you can. All income levels welcome.  [Current Covid Policy]

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JAN 2023

Jan 21, 2023 (SAT) ~ SCROGGINS & ROSE ~ RESERVE SEATS –  Tristan Scroggins (Mandolin) & Alisa Rose (Violin) ~ In a world of growing disconnection, master instrumentalists Tristan Scroggins and Alisa Rose provide a touchstone for experiencing the world in the moment. Despite their youth, Scroggins & Rose bring an experienced touch to the worlds of both Western classical and American traditional music that explores the dynamic and emotional capabilities of a string duet.They are part of a new musical movement that seeks to bridge the gap both culturally and musically between classical and folk music.

Scroggins, a mandolinst and second generation bluegrass virtuoso, and Rose, a Grammy-Nominated composer and violinist/fiddler, create an inviting musical atmosphere with their thoughtful arrangements and harmonies. From here the listener is taken on a journey away from the familiar as the duo utilize risky improvisation and innovative musical techniques to reimagine both the limits of acoustic music and the boundaries of both bluegrass and classical genres. This playful spontaneity energizes the performer and crowd alike grounding them to each passing moment.  “Grana stands out as a highlight amongst the many New Acoustic and progressive bluegrass projects appearing these days… This is music that begs to be heard.” — Bluegrass Unlimited

Jan 24, 2023 (TUES) ~  WALLIS BIRD: HANDS ~ Nine And A Half Songs For Nine And A Half Fingers ~ RESERVE SEATS –  The front cover of Irish born, Berlin based WALLIS BIRD’s new album features a black and white photograph of a hand. A cursory look might not reveal anything unusual, but it only takes a moment to recognize it’s no ordinary hand. In the shadows there’s a stump where the little finger should be, and something seems off about the other digits too. Some will understand its significance: they’ll have seen it strumming an upside-down, right-handed guitar, picking in unorthodox style, forming unconventional chords. The hand, you see, is WALLIS BIRD’s, and it’s there because, having spent much of her life trying to exist despite its restrictions, she’s reached a point where she recognizes that, in many ways, it’s always been vital to her lived reality. With this has come a realization of “who I am, what I am, and what I don’t want.” HANDS documents her subsequent process of change, and its consequences, with typically distinctive style, making it – hands down, naturally – one of the most honest albums you’ll hear at a time when honesty is at a premium. If 2019’s exceptional Woman represented an ambitious state of the world address, HANDS – also known as NINE AND A HALF SONGS FOR NINE AND A HALF FINGERS – finds BIRD turning the spotlight onto herself, raising issues that are sometimes far harder to confront, only to emerge optimistic and whole. Among these are issues of trust, alcohol abuse, stagnation, self-censorship and self-improvement, some addressed through personal recollections of crucial moments accumulated over the last two years. Each, however, is delivered by a voice uncommonly blessed with joy, ingenuity and empathy.

Jan 27, 2023 (FRI) ~ CORNER HOUSE ~ RESERVE SEATS –  Ethan Hawkins (guitar), Louise Bichan (fiddle) , Ethan Setiawan (mandolin), Casey Murray (cello) ~ Old time, Scottish, progressive bluegrass, folk, mutually inspired improvisations ~ Originally hailing from Boston, MA, Corner House takes their name from the place where the four young band members found musical family in one another – their shared home in Brighton, as students at Berklee College of Music. Emerging from varied genre backgrounds, the quartet’s unique strength is their desire to learn from one another, not only in musical skill and style, but in life experience; such that every challenge overcome by one band member becomes part of the group’s shared musical and personal DNA. On their debut full length album How Beautiful It’s Been the band reveals the sublime result of that growth mindset, with a singular sound that incorporates old time, Scottish, progressive bluegrass and folk.

Originally made up of songwriter and guitarist Ethan Hawkins, Scottish fiddle player Louise Bichan, and bluegrass mandolinist Ethan Setiawan, Corner House are students of fa wide variety of musical traditions. In the autumn of 2017, the group debuted at FreshGrass Festival in North Adams, MA, before recording a self-titled EP and touring Scotland the following year. Returning from overseas, the three found the illustrious cellist, Casey Murray, living just down the street and invited her to join the fold, unveiling the new line-up on a second EP, Smart Folks, released in 2019. For their debut full length record, which focuses more on lyric based arrangements, they enlisted harp virtuoso Maeve Gilchrist, a past mentor to all four band members, to produce. “We all really admired her musicality, arranging and writing, and Ethan and Maeve bonded over poetry, and songwriting”, explains Bichan.

How Beautiful It’s Been features five songs and four instrumentals, which serve as soundscape meditations between each lyrical offering. Several of the instrumentals, such as “2 Rights Make A Chicken”, showcase the Celtic influence in the band, with gorgeous cello and fiddle melodies calling Alisdair Fraser and Natalie Haas recordings to mind. In this context, however, they are also accompanied by rhythmic and arpeggiated mandolin and guitar, emerging into improvised solos before returning to the melodic backbone of the tune.

In many ways, Corner House is the band we all wish we could be a part of. Mutually inspired, learning from one another, and open to any and all ideas, the group is a beautiful representation of their generation; not only tolerating, but embracing diversity in every aspect of their music making. If we listen closely enough, we may be able to learn just as much from them as they have from one another.

Jan 29, 2023 (SUN) ~ Crary, Evans, and Barnick – (Note : Martin Stevens (mandolin)  will be stepping in for Wally Barnick on this show!) — RESERVE SEATS – (Note for this show: Potluck 6PM/Show 7PM : Suggested donation $30 or what you can.)  Dan Crary (Guitar/Vocals), Bill Evans (Banjos/Vocals), Wally Barnick (Bass/Vocals) ~ A Crary, Evans & Barnick show includes new songs and old stories, blazing instrumental artistry, and deep-down, powerfully-felt musical moments. It’s whistling winds in the pines, rambling boys and tragic girls, joys and laughter from old times, furious and foot-tapping instrumental tunes, and a little touch of glory-to-God. And it’s the hovering ghosts of Jimmie Rogers and The Carter Family and Bill and Lester and Earl and Woody and all the greats who showed the way.

Dan Crary is a recipient of a 2022 International Bluegrass Music Association Distinguished Achievement Award ~ “Dan Crary is one of the top three or four guitarists of our time; perhaps the best flatpicker around.” Vancouver Folk Festival

Bill Evans is a recipient of the 2022 Steve Martin Banjo Prize ~ “Evans infuses his work with hints of jazz, classical and music of other realms, all fitting snuggly into his conception of the bluegrass sound.” David Royko, The Chicago Tribune

Wally Barnick – “I’ve known Wally Barnick and listened to his eerily beautiful voice since the early 70’s…He is one of those people who can find and sing an obscure song that will make you want to listen to it over and over for the rest of your life…” Dan Crary

FEB 2023

Feb 7, 2023 (TUES) ~ Newberry & Verch – RESERVE SEATS – Joe Newberry and April Verch showcase tunes, ballads, step dancing, and original songs by way of Canada and the Ozarks. With beautiful harmony singing, breathtaking instrumentals, and exquisite dancing, these two singular musicians hit the stage in perfect rhythm, making audiences remember why this music existed in the first place.  WATCH : [I’m Going Home] [Step Dance Clawhammer Banjo]

Feb 11, 2023 (SAT) ~ Kristen Grainger & TRUE NORTH  – RESERVE SEATS –  Kristen Grainger (vocals), Dan Wetzel (guitar, vocals), Martin Stevens – (mandolin, fiddle, octave mandolin, vocals), and Josh Adkins (bass, vocals)— “True North plays tunes so smooth they bring to mind bluegrass-pop artists like Alison Krauss and Union Station, as well as old country legends like Hank Williams, Sr.”   — Kim Ruehl, music reviewer, No Depression/West Coast Performer  Americana quartet True North is a powerhouse of intelligent, memorable songs, and lush instrumental and vocal performances, with the crazy-good picking and harmonies of a band deeply rooted in traditional folk and bluegrass genres. Fronted by award-winning singer-songwriters Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel, True North is rounded out with Pacific Northwest bluegrass superstars Martin Stevens and Josh Adkins.

Feb 18, 2023 (SAT) ~ GUY DAVIS – (BLUES – Banjo/Guitar/Vocals) – RESERVE SEATS – Guy Davis is a two-time Grammy nominee for Best Traditional Blues, a musician, Actor, Author, and Songwriter. Guy uses a blend of roots, blues, folk, rock, rap, spoken word, and world music to comment on and address the frustrations of social injustice, touching topics of politics, historical events, and common life struggles. His background in theater is pronounced through the lyrical storytelling of songs “God’s Gonna Make Things Over” about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, “Welcome to My World”, and “Got Your Letter In My Pocket”. His storytelling is painful, deep, and real, an earthy contrast to modern-day commercial music, meant to create thought underlined by gentle tones from his guitar or banjo fingerpicking.

Guy is a songwriter greatly influenced by his love of theater and storytelling, who derives joy from touring and seeing people from all walks of life. His hope is to bring people together, with the commonality that we are all people regardless of class, race, or personal experience, a lesson he learned from his long time friendship with Pete Seeger. Guy feels that Pete’s greatest strength was his ability to bring total strangers together, and have them all singing harmony by the time they left at the end of the night.

Feb 20, 2023 (MON) ~ Molsky’s Mountain Drifters – *Sold out – Waitlist* – (Note: ‘Suggested’ donation $25-$30 for this show. ) ~ RESERVE SEATS – Bruce Molsky  (Fiddle/Banjo/Guitar/Vocals),  Allison de Groot (Clawhammer Banjo / vocals) and Reed Stutz (Guitar / Mandolin / vocals)—

 Bruce Molsky’s Mountain Drifters trio has been leading the current wave of interest in old time mountain music with a distinctive and high-powered take on southern old time tunes and songs. They also bring their collective voice to other traditional styles. The result has great diversity, drawing many styles into a common  space that audiences love to be a part of.

Grammy-nominated and described as “an absolute master” (No Depression), Bruce Molsky transports audiences to another time and place, with his authentic and personal interpretations of rarities from the Southern Appalachian songbook and other musical traditions from around the globe. Best known for his work on the fiddle, Bruce’s banjo, guitar and his distinctive, powerful vocals also resonate with listeners. His combination of technical virtuosity and relaxed conversational wit makes a concert hall feel like an intimate front porch gathering. 

Bruce’s take on tradition has landed him in collaborations with some of the world’s most highly respected players from roots to rock. He is a special guest on legend rocker Mark Knopfler’s recent CD, “Tracker.” His 1865 Songs of Hope & Home with Anonymous 4, was on Billboard’s top 10 for weeks. Along with Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny, Bruce is a founding member of the supergroup Mozaik, with three recordings. You can see Bruce on the BBC TV “Transatlantic Sessions” with Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, and on “David Holt’s State of Music” on PBS. He stays active touring and recording with longtime collaborators Darol Anger, Tony Trischka and Mountain Drifters’ Allison de Groot. 

A founding member of Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, Allison de Groot drills down on her love for old-time and traditional music, and with a creative approach to the banjo, and has formed her own sound – distinctive and full of personality. Her collaborations with Tatiana Hargreaves, Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, The Goodbye Girls and Nic Gareiss provide spaces to explore the role and dimensions of clawhammer banjo. She has performed at Newport Folk Festival, Celtic Connections, Rockygrass, Hardly Strictly, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Tønder Festival, and many others over years of collaborations. Her album with Tatiana Hargreaves won “Best Bluegrass Album” from the Independent Music Awards and was nominated for ‘Liner Notes of the Year’ at the International Bluegrass Music Association awards.

The newest addition to the trio, Reed Stutz brings instrumental fluency and a fresh, unique voice to string band music. As a multi-instrumentalist and singer, he has performed around the country with musicians including Alice Gerrard & Tatiana Hargreaves, Bella White, and Bruce & Allison, playing at festivals such as Grey Fox, IBMA World of Bluegrass, Porch Pride, and Old Tone Roots Music Festival. His mandolin playing and singing can be heard all over Bella White’s acclaimed debut album “Just Like Leaving” on Rounder Records, and he appears on Joe Troop’s album “Borrowed Time.”

Feb 24, 2023 (FRI) ~ GANGSPIL ~ (Denmark) ~ Sonnich Lydom (accordion, harmonica, vocal) & Kristian Bugge (fiddle, vocals)  ~ RESERVE SEATS –  Two ”Rigspille mænd of Denmark” ~ Two of Denmark’s leading folk musicians take you along on a tour around the music traditions of their home country!  These lively musicians perform old dance tunes and songs from every corner of their Scandinavian home country. From rural islands like Læsø to the metropol Copenhagen, including a few of their own compositions. Expect everything from wild polkas and jigs to lyrical waltzes, fiery reels and happy hopsas. Plus the exotic “Sønderhoning” dance tunes from the famous Island of Fanø and long forgotten songs from all over the country. An unforgettable live experience spiced up with humor and stories from their many years on the road. They perform and have performed with some of the most exciting and well-know musicians from the Danish and Nordic folk scene.

MARCH 2023

 

MARCH 2, 2023 (THURS) ~ Maeve Gilchrist (Celtic Lever Harp) ~ The Harpweaver ~ RESERVE SEATS –  (Note this show was originally Feb 26 and has been changed to March 2) – Described by one critic as “a phenomenal harp player who can make her instrument ring with unparalleled purity”, Maeve Gilchrist has taken the Celtic (lever) harp to new levels of performance and visibility.  Originally from Edinburgh, Gilchrist – a migrant musician – has been making her mark as a ground-breaking harpist on the streets of New York and Boston for for nearly two decades through her collaborations with The Silkroad Project, Nic Gareiss, Viktor Krauss, Ambrose Akinmusire, Darol Anger, Solas and Okkyung Lee. With The Harpweaver, Gilchrist steps into her own as a composer and producer and illuminates her roots as a traditional folk musician through the prism of luscious string parts, electronic manipulation and an archived recitation of The Ballad of the Harpweaver, by the poet Edna St Vincent Millay, a celebrity of Jazz-Age America (Gilchrist was lucky to visit Millay’s former home, where she was scheduled to perform this summer).

March 5, 2023 (SUN) ~ SIMON CHRISMAN & NIC GAREISS – RESERVE SEATS – Simon Chrisman (hammer dulcimer)  & Nic Gareiss (percussive dance, bouzouki, vocals) ,~ Simon Chrisman & Nic Gareiss met in 2007 at a fiddle festival in the Californian redwoods, and have been exploring sound and movement together ever since. Both innovators on their instruments, Nic and Simon bring their unique approaches together for traditional song, percussive dance, instrumental tunes, improvisation and new composition, engaging interlocking rhythms and dynamic textures.

Well-known for his work with the groundbreaking new acoustic string band The Bee Eaters, Simon’s music combines “chamber music’s finely calibrated arrangements with bluegrass’s playful virtuosity and pop music’s melodic resourcefulness.” (The Boston Herald)

Described as “the human epitome of the unbearable lightness of being” (The Irish Times) and “the most inventive and expressive step dancer on the scene” (The Boston Herald), Nic has performed with many of the luminaries of contemporary traditional music and dance, including The Chieftains, The Gloaming, Darol Anger, Liz Carroll, Bruce Molsky, Alasdair Fraser, and Martin Hayes. Together, Nic and Simon adventure into the world of time and timbre to create a breathtaking evening of song, instrumental music, and percussive dance.

March 10, 2023 (FRI) ~ JAMIE STILLWAY & ERIC SKYE – (fingerstyle guitars) – RESERVE SEATS – Jamie Stillway, named by Fretboard Journal as “one of top fingerstyle guitarists of her generation,” and Eric Skye, hailed by Premier Guitar as a “virtuosic guitarist with improvisational telepathy,” will be performing at Abbie Weissenbloom’s house concert series on March 10th in support of their newest release, “Over the Waterfall”, a collection of traditional old-time fiddle tunes. Jamie Stillway and Eric Skye are both widely regarded in the world of fingerstyle guitar as masters of their craft, and their debut album, “Home on the Midrange” was praised by Acoustic Guitar magazine as “a remarkable display of chemistry and imagination.” To hear these two guitarists in conversation is a nothing short of a master class in the nuance of guitar. Eric’s present, laser-like guitar tone meets the languid, spacious beauty of Jamie’s. What this creates is a musical experience that highlights the distinct voices of these two extraordinary guitarists. Both Jamie Stillway and Eric Skye utilize their mastery in service to the song, the melody, and the fleeting moment.

March 18, 2023 (SAT) ~ Tony Furtado – (banjo, slide guitar, and voice) – RESERVE SEATS – Very few musicians of any stripe so personify a musical genre as completely as Tony Furtado embodies Americana roots music.  Tony is an evocative and soulful singer, a wide-ranging songwriter and a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist adept on banjo, cello-banjo, slide guitar and baritone ukulele who mixes and matches sounds and styles with the flair of a master chef (he’s also an accomplished sculptor, but that’s another story). All of the music of America is in Tony’s music. Relix hit the nail on the head when writing of Tony: “True talent doesn’t need categories. (Watch)

March 20, 2023 (MON) ~ THE JEREMIAHS – RESERVE SEATS – “One of the most exciting bands to come out of Ireland in many a year. Their new album is a cracker” Mike Harding Folk Show –  Hailing from County Dublin is singer Joe Gibney on vocals. On fiddle, viola and vocals is County Cork’s Niamh Varian-Barry (formerly of Solas). On flutes and whistles is the French born Julien Bruneteau and on Guitar is Dublin born James Ryan. The Jeremiahs is an Irish folk band that comprises four musicians who have come together with the common goal of writing, composing and performing folk songs and music. With a wonderful mixture of newly composed songs and tunes in the folk genre and a well selected catalogue of older folk songs, they are sure to rouse all the emotions. (This tour would not be possible without the generous support of Culture Ireland. ) https://thejeremiahs.ie/  

April 2023

April 7, 2023 (FRI) ~ The Starlight Darlins ~ RESERVE SEATS  ~ (Emily Johnson-Erday, Siena Christie, Gray Buchanan, & Lauren Oxford); 4-piece acoustic folk band featuring guitar and banjo accompaniment, fiddle, and four-part harmonies. ~ The Starlight Darlins are a band of award-winning singer-songwriters whose music blends poignant melodies, emotive lyrics, and four-part harmonies to create an organic folk sound. Each of the members is an acclaimed musician in their own right: Siena was a Kerrville New Folk finalist and Rocky Mountain Folks Fest finalist in 2022, Emily has won the Walnut Valley Festival’s New Song first-place award multiple times, Lauren has been a musical guest of honor at numerous filk (sci-fi folk music) conventions, and Gray is an accomplished fiddler and member of regularly-performing bluegrass band The Hillbilly Biscuits.

April 27, 2023 (THURS) ~ Neil Pearlman ~ (Piano) ~ Refractions Album Release show! ~ RESERVE SEATS – Internationally acclaimed pianist Neil Pearlman celebrates the release of his first solo piano album, Refractions. Known for bringing fresh ideas to the piano in traditional Scottish music, Neil has collected several melodies from the Gaelic song, bagpipe and fiddle repertoires and reimagined them on the piano. “I often describe my solo piano pieces as looking at a tune through a prism” he writes, referring to the way his improvisations highlight different facets of the melody each time. In this show Neil will present the album in full along with a few other favorite tunes. Some of the pieces treat the source as a springboard for improvisation, some explore the wealth of melodic variations that already exist in the tradition and others let the simple beauty of the melodies shine. Neil tours regularly in a duo with Shetland fiddler Kevin Henderson and in several projects with fiddler Katie McNally, as well as appearing more infrequently with a host of other projects. He is also the host of the TradCafe podcast, a series of conversations and collaborations with great musicians for a wide variety of cultures and traditions. “A force to be reckoned with” –Brian O’Donovan, WGBH’s A Celtic Sojourn

MAY 2023

May 11, 2023 (THURS) ~ FADDIS ADKINS (FnA) DUO ~ RESERVE SEATS  ~  Jim Faddis and Dale Adkins – Guitars & Vocals – There’s something about the simplicity of two guitars, two voices, and perfect harmonies that transcends time and provides an authentic backdrop for the journey of a song. When that journey is delivered from the hands and voices of Jim Faddis and Dale Adkins, you can sit back and live that journey together with them. Their voices blend seamlessly on Jims original songs and country classics giving the audience a feel of a walk through time. Dale’s wizardry on any stringed instrument in his hands is accompanied by Jim’s tasteful rhythm guitar. Few musicians exhibit the instrumental mastery and artistry that Dale brings to his playing on guitar, banjo, ukulele, or tenor guitar.   (Visit : https://www.daleadkins.com/bio.html | https://farmstrongmusic.com/jim-faddis/ )

May 13, 2023 (SAT) ~ Gideon Freudmann ~ (cello) ~ RESERVE SEATS  ~ Gideon Freudmann is a cello innovator, composer and performer. Blending folk, blues, jazz, classical, waltzes, hoedowns and sounds you’d be hard pressed to describe… he calls it CelloBop. Gideon is a founding member of the Portland Cello Project and has lead a variety of small ensembles including Caravan Gogh and Trio Quartetto. He has performed in Europe, Taiwan and Australia, released 2 dozen albums, published a catalog of sheet music, and he contributes to NPR and film soundtracks. But seeing him live, up close is best of all.

May 16, 2023 (Tues) ~ Tony McManus ~ (guitar) ~ RESERVE SEATS  ~ Hailed by John Renbourn as ‘the best Celtic guitarist in the world’ Tony McManus has been listed as one of the 50 transcendental guitarists of all time by Guitar Player Magazine. Conjuring a unique but universal language from that most ubiquitous of instruments, the acoustic guitar, Tony McManus has both extended and transcended the parameters of contemporary Celtic music. Ranked by peers and predecessors alike alongside the guitar world’s all-time greats, his fiendishly dexterous, dazzlingly original playing draws on traditions from the entire Celtic diaspora – Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Galicia, Asturias, Cape Breton, Quebec – along with still further-ranging flavours, such as jazz and east European music.

JUNE 2023

JUNE 1, 2023 (THURS) ~ Countercurrent ~ RESERVE SEATS  ~ (Alex Sturbaum and Brian Lindsay ) ~ Fiddle / Guitar / Foot percussion / Harmony Vocals Countercurrent is a powerhouse acoustic duo based in Seattle WA, featuring fiddle, guitar, harmony vocals, and foot percussion.  Alex Sturbaum and Brian Lindsay display a musical fluency that comes from a decade of playing together at contra dances, concert halls, jam sessions, festivals, bars, and living rooms all across the continent. When dancers and listeners experience the blend of lyrical melodies, groovy chords, thumping percussion, and vocal harmonies all simultaneously, the reaction is usually “How does so much music come from just two people?!”.

JUNE 4, 2023 (SUN) ~ Tim Connell Mandolin, Musical Conversations
with Bernardo Gomez, Upright Bass ~ RESERVE SEATS ~ Longtime favorite Tim Connell returns to our stage with a new duo partner, Bernardo Gomez on upright bass. The two will present a set of musical conversations, featuring eclectic repertoire from Beatles to Brazil, from Appalachia to Broadway, from Klezmer to Zeppelin. (Visit : timconnellmusic.com )

JUNE 8, 2023 (THURS) ~ VARELSE  ~ (Sold Out but you can get on the waitlist! => RESERVE SEATS) ~ Amy Hakanson  (nyckelharpa), Collin Stackhouse (fiddle), Joe Pomianek (guitar), Steven Skolnik  (percussion) ~ Formed by Amy Hakanson in 2018, Varelse is a unique combination of various traditions, instruments, and histories. Nyckelharpa, fiddle, guitar, mandolin and various world percussion instruments come together to create a sound that is simultaneously old and new. Weaving together Scandinavian folk tradition, North American fiddle tunes, and Western European melodies, along with African and Middle Eastern rhythmic traditions, Varelse is pushing the boundaries of folk fusion.

Varelse’s live performances showcase their tunes from their debut album Creature Comforts, as well as new compositions and creative arrangements of traditional melodies from Scandinavia, the British Isles, and North America. (Visit : https://varelsemusic.com)

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